The New Prague Archery Club’s high school team finished second at the New Prague Archery Open Tournament Saturday, Feb. 7, at the high school.

Marge Shimota of Cedar Lake Township has seen plenty of newscasts of late and decided Tuesday night’s (Feb. 3) caucus was worth attending. She was one of about 40 Republicans who attended gatherings of the party faithful at HillSpring Church just outside New Prague.

Shimota doesn’t like what she’s seen going on around her and wanted to get involved. She is a solid Republican and wanted her voice to matter. She’s concerned about the state of Minnesota and the impact it would have on residents and her own grandchildren.

Despite having their best meet in several weeks, the New Prague High School gymnastics team came up just short in successfully defending their Section 2AA crown Friday, Feb. 13, in Eden Prairie.

Minnesota held its state wide caucuses Tuesday, Feb. 3, with both Republican and Democrats meeting in many places. Democrats, or DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor), of three precincts met at the New Prague Memorial Library. The three precincts were the city of New Prague, the city of Heidelberg and Lanesburgh Township.

Delores Ann Lang, age 93, formerly of New Hope, passed away February 8, 2026. 

Delores was born to Lillian and James Shimota in Belle Plaine Township.  She grew up in and around New Prague, MN.  After high school she moved to Minneapolis and met her husband, Bernie.  They were married September 4, 1954.  Delores enjoyed being a homemaker, wife, mom, and grandmother.  Time with the family and friends, cooking, gardening, and travel were things she enjoyed. 

Francis “Fritz” Flicek, was born June 20, 1938, and entered eternal life on February 8, 2026.  He was born to Albert and Catherine Flicek. Raised on farms in the Lonsdale area with his siblings. Fritz learned early the values of hard work, humor, and family - qualities that defined his life.

Donald E. Novak, age 75, of St. Patrick, Minnesota, passed away on February 8, 2026, after surviving a stage IV cancer diagnosis, and fighting Parkinson’s with Lewy Body Dementia. He was born on December 24, 1950, to Eugene and Helen Novak in New Prague, Minnesota, where he spent his formative years on the family farm in St. Patrick.

With one final meet between the regular season and the Section 2AA competition, the New Prague High School boys’ swimming & diving team is working to be in top form as it hopes for a good showing at the section competition.

The Trojans face Owatonna this evening, Feb. 5, 6 p.m., at Owatonna Middle School. They’ll have two weeks to rest, workout and prepare for the section meet Wednesday, Feb. 18-19, at Pioneer Ridge Middle School in Chaska.

With a pair of wins in the past week, New Prague’s floor hockey team is making its final push for an automatic bid into the state tournament and avoid a potentially grueling playoff.

New Prague High School seniors Addy Ridgeway, left, and Landon Shepard were crowed Snoball queen and king at a pep fest Friday, Feb. 6, in the high school’s gym. The crowning of royalty from eight queen candidates and eight king candidates was a highlight of the high school’s mid-winter celebration. Snoball ends with a dance tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 7.

New Prague High School began celebrating Snoball Monday, Feb. 2, and will continue through this week with a 1:45 p.m. pep fest tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 6, with the crowning of the Snoball queen and king in the high school gym. The annual mid-winter celebration ends with a dance Saturday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m,. in the high school gym.

Competing against some of the best Class AAA competition in the state, New Prague High School’s dance team saw its season concluded Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Section 2AAA competition.

With three teams qualifying for the state meet, NP finished seventh in jazz behind champion Edina and state qualifiers Wayzata and Minnetonka, Hopkins, Chanhassen and Chaska. Eden Prairie, Waconia, Shakopee, Robbinsdale, Armstrong and Buffalo finished behind NP.

The Elko New Market Fire Department celebrated its 50th anniversary Thursday evening, Jan. 29, with a dedication of photo walls featuring photos of retired firefighters on one wall, current members on the other wall and photos from the department’s history. The photos and celebration were a reminder a community built the volunteer organization.

When he looks at the lives his adult children enjoy today, Ron McBroom thinks of the lessons they learned as students at St. Wenceslaus Catholic School in New Prague.

It is with great pride in his children – Mary, Joseph, John, James and Julie – and his late wife, Kathy, that McBroom recently announced he was making a $250,000 donation to the school. The donation is in memory of Kathy McBroom and the greater glory of Jesus Christ. Ron believes giving the money in the name of his wife of 56 years and to honor God is more important than the amount of the donation.

The New Prague Archery Club won the Faribault Falcon Classic Saturday, Jan. 31 in a field including teams from Becker, Faribault, Hastings, Minnetonka, New Country School (Henderson), Open World Learning Community (St. Paul), Princeton and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Hastings).

Kathleen “Katie” Scheel was a beautiful wife, devoted mother, and cherished grandmother, among the many roles she carried with quiet strength and grace throughout her life. A woman of deep integrity, unwavering faith, and boundless kindness, Katie lived her values rather than simply speaking them. Her love was steady, her compassion sincere, and her actions, always thoughtful and selfless, spoke far louder than words ever could.